Wu Song (opera character)

By Lin Fengmian

131.4cm x 59cm

scroll paint and ink on paper

Forbidden City Museum, Beijing

This interesting portrait shows the viewers a naive old man. It was painted with simple strokes and it is not in proportion, but it has an unearthly temperament. Chinese artists, especially literator artists, rarely painted self-portraits. This figure represents the interest and esthetic notions of literators.

 

 

Contemplation

By Pan Tianshou

141cm x 167.5cm

finger painting on paper

The cats under the brush of Pan Tianshou look ugly and strange like this one. That is because Pan does not show cats (and other animals) as a particular subject, but as a medium to express what he had in mind. He has actually infused his experiences in life --- they are seldom sweet and happy, but bitter and sad, or even a bit strange. Apart from his psychologic reasons, this style also came from the influence of Zhu Da etc.